aide

cream carpets swallowed the sound of our footsteps, and the air smelled of expensive lilies and old money. Outside the f

amond ring-a solitaire so large it looked like a chunk of ice chipped straight from a glacier. It was meant to rep

" the jeweler murmured, hi

ting the stone. "It's decent. A bit smal

ed for a play I didn't auditio

lon burst open, slamming against the walls with

heart leaping

ace flushed with a manic, sweaty sheen that clashed with his tailo

sed, his eyes locki

ere," a store clerk prot

marched toward me, his breathing ragged. "You blocked

r. She stepped between us, her posture shifting from

ing to a chilling, flat tone I'd never heard her

ing around my upper arm like a vice. Pain shot through my bicep, familia

dress-up? You think putting on his jewelry makes you one of them? Yo

asped, trying to pr

re you embarrass yourself further. You think a man like Damien Maddox keeps pe

ed, grabbing his wrist. "Or I swear

" Andrew raised his free ha

the night he sold me out to save his own skin. He thought I was still his

t was the cold, hard realization that the only wa

ck with a strength t

shaking but loud enough to cut

nned by my resi

holding my left hand up so the diamond caught the

he spat. "You're a

y ounce of the icy dread Damien instilled in

hat followed

corpse. Beside me, I heard Gracelyn suck in a sharp breath, her head whipping ar

red, taking a step bac

riage forged in blood. "So if you touch me again, you aren't touchi

s a volatile fuel. His shock turned into a snarl of pure hatre

finished

self. They didn't speak. They moved with terrifying efficiency. One seized Andrew's raised arm, twisting it b

face pressed against

didn't even look at Andrew. He bowed his head slightly to

e twisted his head to look at me, his eyes bloodshot and crazed. "You think this is over? I'll

s, pathetic and hollow, as the soldiers

to me, his face pale but composed. "Mr. Maddox will be informed immediately. Effectiv

hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. The thre

g at me, her mouth slightly open, pr

the shock in her voice slowl

adrenaline fading into

unreadable. She grabbed her purse and tu